One of the hidden gems in the crafting world is printable vinyl. Printable vinyl is waterproof and tear-resistant. Aside from being completely customizable, it is also compatible with Cricut machines, Silhouette Cameo, and other die-cutting machines.
If printable vinyl is already waterproof, what’s the point of sealing them?
Many companies claim that their printable vinyl is waterproof, so no sealant is required when printed with UV inks. In addition, vinyl is a water-repellent material.
If, however, you wash printable vinyl multiple times, you may find that the ink may run. Aside from that, unsealed printable vinyl doesn’t last very long.
Therefore, you should seal your printable vinyl stickers. By sealing your stickers, you can ensure that they remain waterproof and durable. Most importantly, if waterproof stickers are sealed, they can even be washed in the dishwasher.
The waterproof stickers you make can be used for a variety of purposes, including phone stickers, car window decals, and water bottle decals.
Sealing your printable vinyl stickers will make them perfectly waterproof and dishwasher-safe. The following methods can be used to seal printable vinyl:
Method 1# Self-Adhesive Lamination Method
Tools and Materials
Cricut Cutting Machine
Self-Adhesive Laminating Sheets
Home Inkjet Printer
Sticker Paper
Scraper
Green Standard Cutting Mat
Instructions
Step 1: Upload the design
Go to Cricut Design Space. Open a new canvas and click on Upload.
Select your image to upload.
Select Complex and skip the Clean-Up screen.
Credit: wellcraftedstudio
You can then save the image as a print.
Now select your image from your Uploaded Images Gallery and insert it by clicking Insert Images in the lower right corner.
Step 2: Customize Your Design
By clicking and dragging the image into the left corner, resize it to about 6.75′′ wide.
Click the Save button.
Step 3: Print sticker sheets
You can print your sticker sheets by following the directions on the screen.
Turn off bleed.
Click Print.
Step 4: Prepare to Laminate
The sheets should be removed from the packaging.
Place the top of the sheet on a worktable or work surface for an even and centered application.
There are two ways you can do this:
a) Take off the top of the backing and place the laminating sheet on the surface with the sticky side facing down. Or
b) Make a shallow cut with a kraft knife and a ruler across the top of the sheet. Doing this extra step really helps you align and position your laminate sheet! The strip should be peeled off. You don’t need to peel off all the backing paper.
Credit: wellcraftedstudio
After that, place the sticker paper under the laminated sheet with the image side up.
This Printable Vinyl Sticker Paper Below Is Highly Rated On Amazon
Using spray sealers, you can create a shellac-like surface on stickers. Sprays are used to provide an almost invisible layer of protection for sticker designs if they are used correctly. Before applying a spray sealant, wait 24 hours for the ink to dry before using, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Instructions
Step 1: Upload the design
Open the Cricut Design Space app and upload your design. Customize it according to your preferences and hit save.
Step 2: Print sticker sheets
You can print your sticker sheets by following the directions on the screen (similar to the above methods).
Step 3: Buy a spray
It is necessary to seal Cricut printable vinyl stickers with Minwax polyurethane spray to make them waterproof.
Take A Look At This Great Minwax Fast Drying Polyurethane Spray
Our goal is to give it a couple of coats on a well-ventilated surface or in an outdoor area.
Step 4: Apply light coats of spray
Apply a couple of light coats to your printed designs, making sure to let each coat dry thoroughly. Apply two coats of polyurethane spray. Yellowing might occur if you do more than that.
Credit: makersgonnalearn
Step 5: Load & Cut
Once your design has been sealed with the spray, you can load it into your Cricut machine by placing it on your cutting mat. Your Cricut machine will cut your design.
Credit: makersgonnalearn
Step 6: Weed
Once done you can weed the design with a weeding tool. After that, you can apply it to your material.
See This YouTube Video Explaining How To Seal Printable Vinyl On A Mug
FAQ’s
1- Is it possible to make printable vinyl permanent?
The printable vinyl can be printed on with a home printer and is a permanent craft vinyl, but it really depends on the brand and what kind of printable vinyl you get. Printing vinyl offered by Cricut is temporary, whereas HTVRONT Vinyl offers printable vinyl that is permanent.
2- What is the best way to get the vinyl to stick to mugs?
Use 91% isopropyl alcohol to clean your mug’s surface. As a result, you will be able to remove any oil or dirt from the surface and clean it thoroughly. By doing this, you will ensure that the vinyl decal sticks and stays in place.
3- Is Printable Vinyl Waterproof?
Yes, Cricut printable vinyl is waterproof, but it is not very durable. It is important to seal them properly if you want them to be more water resistant and durable. Also, it is possible to wash printable vinyl in a dishwasher if it has been properly sealed. Check out the article above that explains various ways to show you how to seal printable vinyl stickers.
Final Thoughts
The seal on printable vinyl is essential in order to ensure that your designs last as long as possible. To create beautiful crafts, we have shared some easy tips and methods to seal printable vinyl stickers. Thanks for choosing ourarticle; Is Cricut Printable Vinyl Waterproof? & How To Seal Printable Vinyl? And we hope you have great success with it.
I specialize in writing tech-based product reviews for over 3 years now. My blogs aim to provide well-researched and informative content to help people make informed purchasing decisions.